About Our Rescue

Twisted Branch Aussie Ranch is a dog rescue group in the beautiful Cedar Creek Lake area of East Texas. Our primary focus is to rescue Australian Shepherds and other herding breed dogs from Texas animal shelters, rehabilitate them into adoptable pets, and place them in well-suited forever homes.

With few exceptions, we do not use foster homes. Most of the dogs in our rescue live here in the home with us as members of our family, and they sleep and eat indoors and have free run of the yard during the day. We feel that this is the best way for us to prepare these dogs for adoption and life with their new families, to teach them house manners and basic obedience training, and to get to fully know them so that we can make a proper placement.

Not all dogs that end up in animal shelters are strays. Sometimes a very well-mannered, purebred dog will find itself in a shelter after the death of their owner, something no dog should have to face. Sometimes fully trained dogs are surrendered to shelters from their owners who can no longer afford to care for them or who have suffered sudden health issues and can't care for their dogs while they care for themselves. Some dogs we rescue have been stray for a very long time, and need loving care and rehabilitation to become wonderful adoptive pets. And sadly, some dogs have been abused and dumped and need a lot of TLC. We feel that they all need an opportunity for a wonderful life in a forever home.

Breeds We Rescue

These are the main breeds that we rescue, although sometimes we rescue other breeds as the need arises. We try to stay within the herding breeds and with dogs of similar sizes so that they can fit into our existing pack of dogs well.

We do not rescue Australian Cattle Dogs (Heelers), as they do not do well in our large-pack environment.

Resident Dogs

These are the dogs who live here, who help to socialize and acclimate all of the new dogs who come here.

"Shelter dogs aren't broken, they've simply experienced more life than other dogs. If they were human, we would call them wise. They would be the ones with tales to tell and stories to write, the ones dealt a bad hand who responded with courage. Don't pity a shelter dog. Adopt one. And be proud to have their greatness by your side."